Well before the party crashers incident, then Social Secretary Desiree Rogers had already strained relationships with the first lady and key White House influentials over her decidedly out front profile.

According to the New York Times, Rogers felt that she was strongly misunderstood and left undefended by her White House colleagues. As Social Secretary, Rogers believed it her duty to promote an Obama brand.

Rogers’ flashy spread in The Wall Street Journal, posing in a $3,495 silk pleated dress and $110,000 diamond earrings, aimed to further enhance this  ”Obama Brand.”

In light of a depressed economy and a 10% national unemployment rate, Rogers’ decisions were deemed ill-fitting. Her Wall Street Journal spread led to a confrontation with White House senior advisor, David Axelrod.

“The president is a person, not a product,” he was said to tell her. “We shouldn’t be referring to him as a brand.”

Photo via ayebeclear.com